Ancient Theatre of Taormina

The ancient theatre of Taormina is one of the great classical sites of the Mediterranean. Built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and later enlarged by the Romans, it sits on a hillside with a view that has been making visitors gasp for two thousand years: the stage opening frames Etna perfectly, with the sea far below and the Calabrian mountains on the horizon. No backdrop painted for any modern stage has ever matched it.

The theatre holds around 5,400 people and is still used for performances — the Taormina Arte festival runs summer concerts and operas here, and the setting transforms any performance into something memorable. Visit in the morning when the light on Etna is best and the crowds are thinner. The entrance fee is modest by Italian standards; allow 90 minutes to explore the site properly including the upper tiers.

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A story
The theatre was built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC, substantially enlarged by the Romans, and converted in the medieval period into a fortification. It was never forgotten — unlike many ancient theatres, it remained a visible landmark throughout the centuries. Grand Tour travellers in the 18th and 19th centuries considered it one of the essential sights of the Mediterranean world, and Goethe described the view from the cavea as "the greatest work of art and nature."